The Grand Prix of America, near New York, postponed to 2014?

For months, Bernie Ecclestone has been expressing doubts about the chances of the Grand Prix of America taking place as early as 2013, and those doubts seem to be validated as the organization is reportedly on the verge of announcing the postponement to 2014 of the event scheduled in New Jersey. Indeed, as of yesterday, the mayor of Weehawken, Richard Turner, indicated that the Grand Prix promoters had fallen behind, particularly in obtaining certain construction permits and/or refurbishing public roads, even though the work could be slowed down or even halted by the often harsh winter in the northeastern United States. The official added that a statement would be released during the day to formalize the decision.

For many months, the indicators were on orange in New York, with Bernie Ecclestone repeatedly making media appearances to express his doubts about the Grand Prix, recently stating that the organizing contract was no longer valid as the promoters had not adhered to its terms. However, even the resignation of Tom Cotter, the race President, last August, did not dampen the optimism of the organizers, who assured the Governor of New Jersey that the event would indeed take place.

Today, however, the indicators are in the red and Bernie Ecclestone has pulled the rug from under the race promoters by stating, to Eurosport-Yahoo, that it would not take place next year, thus confirming Richard Turner’s statements: If they came to us with a contract and we were satisfied with it, the question would be whether they can finish in six months? Winter in New York is not mild. But the Briton mainly mentions a lack of financial support, while the promoters assured that the project would be completely financed by private shareholders: There’s not much progress with New Jersey. They are still trying to sort out their financial problems. I think if they suddenly found investors, it would be good [but] they are looking for investors. And the F1’s chief financial officer adds, to the Reuters agency: They have no more time. There are a whole bunch of things and they haven’t thought enough about it. They woke up, but it was too late.

In the latest version of the 2013 calendar published by the FIA, the event was the only one still subject to confirmation, and its postponement, which now only awaits officialization, suggests that only nineteen races will be on the program next season. However, it is not to be excluded that the vacant slot could be filled by another country, with Le Castellet still working on the return of a Grand Prix on French soil from 2013, while at the same time, a return of the Turkish Grand Prix may not be ruled out.

In the longer term, if the Grand Prix of America were to simply never take place, the loss for Formula One would be estimated at around 180 million euros – 18 million euros paid annually by the organizers over a ten-year period. Bernie Ecclestone could then turn to Mexico or Argentina, which have expressed their intentions to return to the Formula One World Championship calendar.

This would also represent a loss for the communities of Weehawken and West New York, to whom, according to the Wall Street Journal, the race promoters pay $500,000 a year to host the event on their territory, while regional economic benefits are estimated at $60 million a year. However, according to Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, it makes more sense to him to postpone the race, while on the West New York side, Joe DeMarco, assistant city attorney, states that the promoters want a world-class product and believes that if they choose to postpone the race to ensure its quality, then no one has a problem with that.

The news of the postponement still needs to be confirmed, as a spokesperson for the event’s promoters simply announced that a statement would be issued on Friday.

Update: The promoters of the Grand Prix of America have officially postponed the North American race to 2014.